Methods and systems for surveying a user with scan-able codes

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are methods, systems and computer program products for surveying a user using a scan-able information encoded graphic image, such as a bar code or a quick response (QR) code. In one embodiment, a mobile communication device such as a smartphone, tablet computer or other mobile computer is adapted to include a survey client module for scanning and communicating QR code information. QR code scanning is accomplished by a camera module that is associated with the smartphone or other mobile computing device. The survey client module communicates the scanned QR code information to an associated server application for collecting, processing and reporting survey data. The information encoded in the QR code includes information that is sufficient to identify a client entity (e.g., a local retailer or merchant) and a survey response.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/575,603, filed Aug. 24, 2011 and U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/634,497, filed Mar. 1, 2012;the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject matter described herein relates to methods and systems forcollecting feedback or surveying a user using scan-able codes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Information collection systems that are typically deployed to gatherinformation from a consumer of goods and services are often intrusiveand time consuming from the perspective of the consumer. Suchinformation collection systems often require the consumer to access aWEB site that presents the consumer with a series of questions to becompleted. While such information collection systems are capable ofgathering detailed feedback information from a consumer, the time andeffort required to provide the requested feedback information is suchthat many consumers chose not to participate.

In light of these problems, what is needed is a system and method forefficiently and conveniently collecting feedback or surveying a user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect, the present invention includes systems andmethods for surveying a user using a scan-able information encodedgraphic image, such as a bar code or a quick response (QR) code. In oneembodiment, a mobile communication device such as a smartphone, tabletcomputer or other mobile computer is adapted to include a survey clientmodule for scanning and communicating QR code information. QR codescanning is accomplished by a camera module that is associated with thesmartphone or other mobile computing device. The survey client modulecommunicates the scanned QR code information to an associated serverapplication for collecting, processing and reporting survey data. In oneembodiment, the information contained in the scanned QR code is decodedby the survey client module and communicated to the associated serverapplication. The information encoded in the QR code includes informationthat is sufficient to identify a client entity (e.g., a local retaileror merchant) and a survey response. The server application is adapted toreceive the information sent by the survey client module and to store,analyze and generate reports based on the information.

In another embodiment, an image (e.g., JPEG, bitmap, etc.) of thescanned QR code icon is provided by the survey client module to theassociated server application. In this case, the server application isadapted to decode the information encoded in the QR code, and tosubsequently store, analyze and generate reports based on theinformation.

According to another aspect, the present invention includes systems andmethods for providing enhanced user survey data collection capability.In one embodiment, the survey client module communicates the scanned QRcode information to an associated server application residing on acloud-hosted application server, where the information encoded in the QRcode includes information that is sufficient to identify a client entityand a survey response. The server application responds to the surveyclient module with a follow-up survey solicitation, where the follow-upsurvey solicitation is based, at least in part, on the scanned QR codeinformation received from the survey client module.

According to another aspect, the present invention includes systems andmethods for distributing and redeeming a survey participation rewardvoucher to a survey respondent. In one embodiment, survey participationreward voucher content information (e.g., text which describes thereward voucher, a graphic image associated with the reward voucher,etc.) is communicated from the server application to the survey clientmodule. At least a portion of the survey participation reward vouchercontent information is displayed to the user associated with the mobilecommunication device. The user may select the survey participationreward voucher for redemption. In response to selecting the surveyparticipation reward voucher for redemption, the survey client moduleprompts the user to scan a scan-able graphic icon (e.g., QR code)associated with a client entity. The information encoded in the QR codeincludes information that is sufficient to identify the client entity.At least a portion of the scanned QR code information, as well asinformation which is sufficient to identify the selected surveyparticipation reward voucher is communicated by the survey client moduleto the server application. In response to receiving this information,the server application records that the survey participation rewardvoucher has been redeemed and communicates a redemption or authorizationcode to the survey client software module. The redemption orauthorization code may be provided to the client entity with which thesurvey participation reward voucher is being redeemed so as to provideevidence that the survey participation reward voucher is considered tobe redeemed by the server application.

The subject matter described herein for facilitating scan code-baseduser surveying may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, orany combination thereof. As such, the terms “function” or “module” asused herein refer to hardware, software, and/or firmware forimplementing the feature being described. In one exemplaryimplementation, the subject matter described herein may be implementedusing a computer readable medium having stored thereon computerexecutable instructions that when executed by the processor of acomputer perform steps. Exemplary computer readable media suitable forimplementing the subject matter described herein include disk memorydevices, programmable logic devices, application specific integratedcircuits, and downloadable electrical signals. In addition, a computerreadable medium that implements the subject matter described herein maybe located on a single device or computing platform distributed acrossmultiple physical devices and/or computing platforms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the subject matter described herein will now beexplained with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram which illustrates a mobilecommunication device that includes a camera and exemplary survey clientmodule;

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram which illustrates an applicationserver that includes an exemplary server application module;

FIG. 3 is a diagram that illustrates exemplary user, client and surveyparticipation reward provisioning data;

FIG. 4 is a diagram that illustrates exemplary primary and follow-upsurvey content data;

FIG. 5 is a diagram that illustrates exemplary survey response data;

FIG. 6 is a diagram that illustrates exemplary survey participationreward redemption data;

FIG. 7 is an information flow diagram that illustrates an exemplaryscan-able survey transaction and an associated follow-up surveytransaction;

FIG. 8 is an information flow diagram that illustrates an exemplarydistribution of a survey participation reward and associated rewardredemption processing; and

FIG. 9 is an information flow diagram that illustrates exemplaryprovisioning and data reporting transactions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed are systems and methods for collecting survey information froma user with regard to a good or service provided by a client entity(e.g., retailer, merchant, corporation, etc.), and for processing andreporting the collected survey information to the client entity. In apreferred embodiment, the present invention includes a survey clientmodule, which may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware or acombination thereof and which resides on a mobile communication device,such as a smartphone, tablet computer, netbook computer, or other mobilecomputing device. The survey client module may include an executablecomputer program (e.g., C++, Java, etc.) that is adapted to bedownloaded onto the mobile communication device, installed and executed.The survey client module may also include a WEB browser that is adaptedto access and execute WEB-based software (e.g., Java Applet, etc.) thatprovides a least a portion of the necessary survey client functionality.Shown in FIG. 1 is a block diagram that illustrates an exemplaryarchitecture of a smartphone-based survey client module. Smartphone 100includes a camera module 102 that is adapted to capture and store animage in a digital format. Smartphone 100 also includes a survey clientmodule 104. Survey client module 104 is comprised of scan code readermodule 106, a user interface module 108, an administration module 110, asurvey control logic module 112, a survey participation reward controllogic module 114, a data storage module 116, and a communication module118.

In one embodiment, scan code reader module 106 is adapted to receivedigital image information associated with a photographed scan code icon,such as a quick response (QR) code, bar code, or other graphic encodingformat. Reader module 106 analyzes and decodes or extracts digitalinformation encoded within the scan code icon image. The extractedinformation may comprise information that is representative, forexample, of an alphanumeric text string, a numeric code. The decodedscan code information is provided to an associated server applicationmodule via communication module 118. In an alternate embodiment, scancode reader module 106 is adapted to receive digital image informationfrom camera module 102 and to communicate the digital image information(e.g., JPEG) to an associated server application module viacommunication module 118 where decoding processing is performed.

User interface module 108 is adapted to present the mobile device userwith a graphical user interface for enabling the user to generallycontrol and operate the functionality of the survey client. Userinterface module 108 is adapted to present a menu structure to the userand enable the user to navigate this menu structure. The menu structureprovides a user with access to administrative functions, such as accountsettings (e.g., username, password, service preferences, personalinformation, etc.), account log-in. Such administrative functions arecontrolled within survey client module 104 via administration module110. The menu structure also provides the user with the ability tocontrol the associated smartphone camera. The ability to access andoperate the smartphone camera in the manner required to effectivelyphotograph or scan a scan code icon, such as a QR code, is provided viasurvey control logic module 112. The menu structure also provides theuser with the ability to access and redeem survey participation rewards.Survey participation reward access and redemption functionality isprovided by survey participation reward control logic module 114.

Data storage module 116 is adapted to provide both long term storage ofdata associated with the survey client module, as well as short term,cache-type storage of survey client related data. Exemplary uses of thedata storage are discussed in more detail in the disclosure thatfollows.

Communications module 118 is adapted to facilitate the communication ofinformation between survey client module 104 and an associated serverapplication module. For example, communication module 118 may receiveinformation from survey control logic module 112 that is to becommunicated to an associated server application module. Communicationmodule 118 may package the information according to a pre-definedmessage format and forward the message to a data communicationsinterface associated with the smartphone. Exemplary data communicationinterfaces may include, but are not limited to, a General Packet RadioService (GPRS) interface, an Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution(EDGE), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), WiMax, WiFi, etc. For example,in one embodiment, when a user scans a survey response QR codeassociated with the present invention, communication module 118 isadapted to communicate to an associated server application moduleinformation that was encoded in the scanned survey response QR code aswell as information that can be used to identify the user. Informationthat can be used to identify the user may include a user identifier(e.g., username, email address, mobile IP address, session ID, etc.). Itwill be appreciated that the communication of such user identifyinginformation to the server module may be triggered upon scanning of theQR code or may be triggered upon startup of software associated withsurvey client module 104 (e.g., auto-login, manual login, etc.).

Geo-location module 120 is adapted to determine geo-location informationindicative of the geographic position of mobile communication device100. Geo-location information determined by module 120 may includeGlobal Positioning System (GPS) coordinate information (e.g., latitude,longitude, elevation). Module 120 may determine this geo-locationinformation and generally facilitate the communication of thisinformation to an associated server application module in conjunctionwith the communication of scanned graphic icon (e.g., QR code)information, thereby enabling the server application module to identifyand store the location at which a QR code was scanned.

Shown in FIG. 2 is a block diagram that illustrates an exemplaryarchitecture of a server application module 202, which resides andexecutes on a network or cloud-hosted application server 200. In theembodiment presented in FIG. 2, the server application module iscomprised of a provisioning, administration and billing module 204, areporting module 206, a survey logic control module 208, a surveyparticipation reward control logic module 210, a data storage module212, and a communication module 214.

Provisioning, administration and billing module 204 is adapted toprovide access for a user, such as a client entity, mobile user entityor a system administrator, to provision registration information,subscription configurations/preference information, survey contentinformation, and survey participation reward content information.Exemplary user registration and configuration settings information ispresented in Table 1, as shown in FIG. 3. In the context of thisdisclosure, a user is considered to be the operator or user of a mobilecommunication device (e.g., smartphone, tablet computer, etc.) thatincludes a survey client module, and is therefore capable of scanning aQR code (or other encoded, optically scan-able icon) and providingsurvey data to an associated application server. For example, a user maybe a consumer of goods and services provided by a merchant, or anemployee of a corporation.

Table 1 includes UserID information 340, user name information 342, usercity 344, user state 346, user zip code 348, user country 350, Follow-upSurvey permission information 352, and geo-location data sharingpermission information 354. The user information shown in Table 1 ismerely exemplary and is not intended to be comprehensive. Exemplaryclient registration and configuration settings information is presentedin Tables 2 and 3, as shown in FIG. 3. In the context of thisdisclosure, a client is considered to be an entity that wishes to surveya user. For example, a client entity may be a retailer or merchant ofgoods and services, or a corporation that wishes to survey itsemployees. Table 2 includes ClientID information 440, client nameinformation 442, client city 444, client state 446, client zip code 448,client country 450, client geo-location data 452, and service planinformation 454. The client information shown in Table 2 is merelyexemplary and is not intended to be comprehensive. Table 3 includessurvey participation reward identification information 380, cliententity identification information 382, survey participation rewarddescription information 384, reward distribution start date information386, reward distribution stop date information 388, and rewarddistribution trigger criteria information 390.

A client entity, such as a restaurant owner, may log-in to serverapplication module 202 and, via module 204, construct or provisionsurvey content associated with a survey of customer satisfaction withthe service at the owner's restaurant. The client entity may implicitlyor explicitly define a primary survey question, such as “How was theservice?” In the case of an explicitly defined primary survey question,the literal question may be stored in a data structure or databaseassociated with data storage module 212. One or more responsesassociated with the primary survey question are also defined and storedin data storage module 212. Exemplary responses might include, “PoorService” and “Good Service”. In one embodiment, a code is associatedwith each defined response to the primary survey question. As such, thecode is explicitly associated with the response and implicitlyassociated with the primary survey question. Exemplary survey contentdata is presented in Table 4, shown in FIG. 4. Each exemplary surveycontent record in Table 4 includes a QR code identifier 300, a ClientID302, a location type indicator 304, QR code descriptor text descriptorinformation 306, and follow-up survey identification information 308. Itwill be appreciated, in the sample data shown in Table 4, that the QRcode identifier values chosen incorporate the ClientID value in thefirst three digits. As such, the QR code assigned to the survey responseoption “Poor Service” includes information that is sufficient toexplicitly identify both the client entity (i.e., “Luigi's Pizzeria”)with which the survey is associated and the survey response option(i.e., “Poor Service”). It will also be appreciated that, in thisexample, the survey question itself (i.e., “How was the service?”) maybe inferred from the possible survey response options that areavailable. Hence, in one sense, the QR code can also be thought of asincluding a triplet of information sufficient to identify a cliententity, a survey response, and implicitly, an associated surveyquestion.

Provisioning, administration and billing module 204 is adapted togenerate an encoded scan-able graphic icon (e.g., QR code icon)associated with each possible survey response, where the informationencoded in the scan-able graphic icon includes, at least, the associatedresponse code (e.g., QR code). In an alternate embodiment, informationthat can be used to identify the associated client entity may beseparately encoded in the scan-able graphic icon. The client entity maydownload and print or otherwise display these scan-able graphic icons atvarious locations within the restaurant so that they may be scanned by apatron/user of mobile communication device 100.

According to one aspect of the present invention, in response to thescanning of a scan-able graphic code (e.g., QR code) that encodes aclient identifier and survey response option identifier, follow-up or“micro” survey content information may be sent to a user. Shown in FIG.4 are Tables 5 and 6, which include exemplary follow-up survey data thatmay be provisioned by a client entity via module 204. Table 5 includesFollow-up survey ID information 320, and Follow-up survey descriptorinformation 322. Table 6 includes Follow-up survey ID information 330,ResponseOptionID information 332, ResponseOption Descriptor information334, and optionally a pointer to another Follow-up survey 336.

Continuing with the previous survey example, if a user scans the QR codeicon that encodes the value “001111” which is associated with the surveyresponse option “Poor Service” (see Table 4, record 1), follow-up surveycontent is subsequently sent and displayed to the user. In this example,the follow-up survey content includes the question “How was the servicepoor?” and also includes three possible response options;ResponseOptionID=1: “Waiter was rude”, ResponseOptionID=2: “Long wait tobe seated”, and ResponseOptionID=3: “Service was slow”. In practice, theuser may select some or all of the provided response options. The user'sresponse option selection(s) are then communicated to the serverapplication module where they are processed and recorded. Additionalfollow-up surveys may be sent to the user based on the responseoption(s) selected.

Reporting module 206 is adapted to provide access to survey data thathas been collected as well as to survey participation rewarddistribution and redemption information. In one embodiment, reportingmodule 206 analyzes collected survey data and generates summary reportsassociated with the survey data. Module 206 may generate and reportstatistics that are based on collected survey data. Reports generated bymodule 206 may be viewed, for example, by a client entity via a WEBbrowser or other software interface. Module 206 may also provide survey,participation reward and redemption data and associated statistics in adownloadable format, such as a spreadsheet or portable document format.In one embodiment, report module 206 may enable a user to access andview user account information, including user settings, userpreferences, survey participation rewards earned, survey participationreward redemption information, survey participation reward transfers toother users, etc.

According to one aspect, survey control logic module 208 is adapted: toreceive and process scanned survey code (e.g., QR code) information fromone or more survey client modules. Module 208 facilitates the storage ofcollected survey code information within an associated data storagemodule. In an alternate embodiment, module 208 is adapted to decode or“read” an image provided by a survey client module. The image may be,for example, a JPEG formatted graphic image of a QR code icon. Thedecoded information extracted from the QR code icon is then processedand stored in a manner similar to that described above. Module 208 isadapted to receive and log or record scanned survey code (e.g., QR code)information from a user. Module 208 may also access provisionedfollow-up survey rules and communicate follow-up survey content to theuser based on the provisioned rules. Module 208 may subsequently receivefollow-up survey response information from the user, and log or recordthis follow-up survey response information and again access theprovisioned follow-up survey rules and communicate additional follow-upsurvey content to the user based on the provisioned rules.

Shown in FIG. 5 are Tables 7 and 8, which include exemplary surveyresponse transaction data that is stored, for example, in data storagemodule 212. Table 7 includes UserID information 400, survey responsetransaction identifier information 402, transaction timestampinformation 404, scanned survey response code (e.g., QR code)information 406, and user geo-location coordinate information at thetime of the survey response transaction 408. Table 8 includes UserIDinformation 420, survey response transaction identifier information 422,follow-up survey identification information 424, transaction timestampinformation 426, follow-up survey response option identificationinformation 428, and user geo-location coordinate information at thetime of the follow-up survey response transaction 430.

Reward control logic module 210 is adapted to operate in conjunctionwith module 208 so as to receive or be informed of scanned survey code(e.g., QR code) and/or follow-up survey response information associatedwith a user/survey client module. In one embodiment, module 210 isadapted to distribute a survey participation reward, such as a coupon orvoucher that may be exchanged for a good or service, to a user based onsurvey scan code (e.g., QR code) information received from the user orfrom follow-up survey response information received from the user. Todetermine which survey participation reward content to distribute,module 210 may access provisioned reward rules data, such as theexemplary survey participation reward data shown in Table 3.

In an alternate embodiment, module 210 is adapted to distribute surveyparticipation reward content to a user based on criteria other thanreceived survey scan code or follow-up survey response information. Forexample, module 210 may distribute reward content based on the number ofsurvey response events or transactions initiated by a user. In onescenario, a user is sent a survey participation reward by module 210 forevery 25^(th) survey response event associated with the user. In anotherscenario, module 210 may periodically or randomly distribute rewardcontent to a user.

Module 210 is also adapted to receive and process a request by auser/survey client module to redeem a survey participation reward. Theuser/survey client module requesting to redeem a survey participationreward provides information which identifies the reward to be redeemedand the redemption entity. A redemption entity is defined herein as anyentity (e.g., retail merchant, corporation, etc.) that exchanges asurvey participation reward for a good or service. Module 210 is adaptedvalidate the redemption request. Validation of a redemption request mayinclude, but is not limited to, confirming that the requesting user hasbeen previously given the reward associated with the redemption request,confirming that the reward associated with the redemption request hasnot expired, confirming that the redemption entity information providedis valid, confirming that the user is in good standing.

In one embodiment, module 210 may facilitate the sharing, gifting, ortransfer of a survey participation reward from one user to another user.In this case, a first user who is the current owner of a surveyparticipation reward, selects the reward and identifies a second user towhom the reward is to be transferred. The first user then communicatesinformation that identifies both the reward and the “transferred to”user to module 210. Module 210 receives, processes and logs the transferrequest and updates the appropriate reward data so as to execute thetransfer. In one embodiment, reporting module 206 enables a cliententity or user to view, track and analyze such reward transfers.

Shown in FIG. 6 is Table 9, which includes exemplary surveyparticipation reward redemption data that is stored in a data storagemodule. Table 9 includes UserID information 360, survey participationreward identification information 362, survey response transactionidentifier information associated with the survey response thattriggered issuance of the survey participation reward 364, surveyparticipation reward expiration information 366, survey participationreward redemption timestamp information 368, and information whichidentifies a redemption entity 370.

Returning to FIG. 2, data storage module 212 is adapted to include orhave access to the data structures, databases, and data tablesassociated with the storage of survey system data described andsuggested herein, some of which is illustrated in Tables 1 through 9. Inone embodiment, data storage module 212 may include or make use of acommercially available database system, such as Oracle. In any event,data storage module 212 may utilize a variety of physical storagemediums to provide, the described functionality including, but notlimited to, magnetic storage media and optical storage media. In oneembodiment, at least a portion of reporting and data storagefunctionality may be provided by external servers and/or data storagebackend platforms. For example, reporting module 206 may communicate andinteroperate with an external, cloud-based reporting and databasesystem, such as that provided by SalesForce.com. Likewise, in otherembodiments of the present invention, the various functions describedwith herein with respect to server application module 202 may bedistributed over one or more cloud-based application and/or databaseserver platforms.

According to one aspect, communication module 214 is adapted tofacilitate communication with one or more survey client modules, aspreviously described herein. As such, communication module 214 isadapted to interoperate with and generally facilitate communicationswith survey client module 104 via survey client communication module118. A variety of communication protocol stacks and languages may beimplemented by communication module 214 within the scope of thisinvention, including but not limited to, transmission controlprotocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP), user datagram protocol/Internetprotocol (UDP/IP), Extensible Markup Language (XML), Hypertext MarkupLanguage (HTML), Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), SessionInitiation Protocol (SIP), etc.

According to another aspect, communication module 214 is adapted tofacilitate communication with a client or user entity via acommunication interface other than survey client-based communicationmodule 118. For example, communication module 214 is adapted tofacilitate communications with a WEB browser (e.g., Chrome, InternetExplorer, FireFox, etc.). Such WEB browser interface support may beused, for example, by a client or user entity to provision survey systeminformation.

FIGS. 7 through 9 present various exemplary communication/signalingscenarios that may be associated with embodiments of the presentinvention. These communication scenarios are not intended to representall possible information communication scenarios, and are instead merelyillustrative in nature.

FIG. 7 includes mobile communication device 100 (e.g., smartphone),which includes a camera module and a survey client module previouslydescribed herein. Also included is application server 200, whichincludes a server application module previously described herein. In theexemplary scenario illustrated, smartphone 100 runs, executes, oractivates the survey client module residing on the device. A user ofsmartphone 100 navigates within the survey client module menu structureso as to reach a point where the user is prompted to use the associatedcamera module to scan a survey QR code icon 500. In this example, surveyQR code icon encodes information that identifies a client entity (i.e.,Luigi's Pizzeria: ClientID=001) and a survey response (i.e., “ServiceWas Poor”: Code 111). The scanned QR code icon is decoded, yielding thecode “001111”. The code “001111”, along with current geo-locationcoordinate information (i.e., Long, Lat, Elev) and information thatidentifies the user is communicated to application server 200 viaSubmitQR message 1. Application server 200 acknowledges receipt of theSubmitQR message with a SubmitQR Response message 2. Application server200 logs the scanned survey response information provided by the user,and in this example, provides follow-up survey content information inFollowupSurveyMenu message 3: FollowupSurveyMenu message 3 includes atransaction identifier, a follow-up survey identifier, a follow-upsurvey descriptor, and response option content. In this example, thetransaction identifier is “d254c546873”, the follow-up survey identifieris “001344”, the follow-up survey descriptor is “How Was The ServicePoor”, and the response option content includes the following:ReponseOptionID=01−“Waiter Was Rude”, ReponseOptionID=02−“Long Wait ToBe Seated”, ReponseOptionID=03−“Service Was Slow”. The follow-up surveydescriptor and response option content text are displayed to the user,who is permitted to select some or all of the response options. Forexample, the user may use touchscreen capability on the smartphone toselect some or all of the displayed response options. Once selection iscomplete the user, via the survey client module user interface, causesthe selected response option information to be communicated toapplication server 200 via FollowupSurveyMenu Response message 4. TheFollowupSurveyMenu Response message includes transaction identifierinformation, the follow-up survey identifier, selected response optioninformation, and current geo-location coordinate information (i.e.,Long, Lat, Elev). In this example, the transaction identifier is“d254c546873”, the follow-up survey identifier is “001344”, the selectedresponse option content includes the following:ReponseOptionID=01−“Waiter Was Rude”, and current geo-locationinformation includes current Long., Lat., Elev. coordinates. Applicationserver 200 logs the follow-up survey selected response optioninformation provided by the user. It will be appreciated thatapplication server 200 could provide additional follow-up survey contentinformation via additional FollowupSurveyMenu messages, therebyprogressively soliciting more and more specific or targeted feedbackfrom the user following the initial QR code scan by the user. Theability to progressively focus the survey content presented to a userfollowing the scanning of a more general QR code-based feedback icon isone of several advantages of the present invention.

FIG. 8 includes mobile communication device 100 (e.g., smartphone),which includes a camera module and a survey client module previouslydescribed herein. Also included is application server 200, whichincludes a server application module previously described herein. In theexemplary scenario illustrated, smartphone 100 runs, executes, oractivates the survey client module residing on the device. In thisoperational scenario, application server 200 determines that the user ofsmartphone 100 has earned or should be distributed a reward, such as asurvey participation reward. This could be, for example, the result ofthe user providing the survey response feedback information describedpreviously with respect to FIG. 7. In any event, application server 200communicates an IssueReward message 1 to smartphone 100. IssueRewardmessage 1 includes a survey participation reward identifier anddescriptive content associated with the reward. In this example, thesurvey participation reward identifier is “34532433” and the rewarddescriptive content is “$2 Off Any Item.” The survey client moduleassociated with smartphone 100 receives and stores/caches the surveyparticipation reward information and displays it on-demand to the user.In various embodiments, survey participation reward content may beeither “pushed” by application server 200 (such as is described above),or “pulled” by the survey client module on smartphone 100 (i.e., thesurvey client module may request that reward content be sent byapplication server 200).

Continuing with the exemplary operational scenario presented in FIG. 8,the smartphone user navigates within the user interface menu structureprovided by the associated survey client module on the smartphone so asto reach a point where the user is prompted to select the surveyparticipation reward that is to be redeemed. Once the user has selectedthe reward that is to be redeemed, the user is prompted to use theassociated camera module to scan a redemption QR code icon 502. In thisexample, redemption QR code icon encodes information that identifies theclient entity with which the reward is being redeemed (i.e., Luigi'sPizzeria: ClientID=001). The client entity with which the reward isbeing redeemed is also referred to herein as the redemption entity. Inother embodiments, the redemption QR code could be, for example, arandomly generated code or an arbitrary code selected and provisioned byor for the redemption entity. The scanned redemption QR code icon isdecoded, yielding the code “001”. The code “001”, along with theselected survey participation reward identification informationRewardID=34532433 are communicated to application server 200 viaRedeemRewardRequest message 2. Application server 200 acknowledgesreceipt of the RedeemRewardRequest message with a RedeemRewardResponsemessage 3. The ReedemRewardResponse message includes a redemptionauthorization code, “22354546”, which is displayed to the user. Inpractice, the redemption entity asks to view the redemptionauthorization code so as to verify that the reward is valid and has beenprocessed by/is considered redeemed by application server 200. Themessaging scenario shown in FIG. 8 assumes that the user takes an actionthat signals application server 200 with a ReedemRewardConfirmationmessage, which confirms that the redemption authorization code has beenreceived and used, and at this point the application server 200considers the reward to have been successfully redeemed/used. However,embodiments of the present invention may be implemented that do notrequire such ReedemRewardConfirmation message signaling from the user inorder to complete the redemption transaction. In this embodiment,application server 200 considers the redemption transaction completewhen the redemption authorization code (i.e., message 3) is successfullyreceived by the survey client module on the smartphone. Once theredemption transaction is complete, application server 200 signals thesurvey client module on smartphone 100 with a RemoveRewardRequestmessage 5, which causes the survey participation reward contentassociated with the redeemed reward (i.e., RewardID=34532433) to beeither marked as “redeemed” or deleted from the smartphone. For example,the reward content associated with RewardID=34532433 is deleted from thesurvey client data storage module and RemoveRewardResponse message 6acknowledging the deletion is generated and sent from smartphone 100 toapplication server 200.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary provisioning and report access scenario.FIG. 9 includes a communication terminal 504, such as a personalcomputer, tablet computer, netbook computer, laptop computer, mobilecomputing device, or smartphone that is capable of communicating withapplication server 200. In one embodiment, communication withapplication server 200 may be accomplished via a WEB browser client(e.g., Chrome, Internet Explorer, FireFox) running or executing oncommunication terminal 504. Communication terminal 504 may utilize adata network (e.g., public Internet, wide area network, mobile datanetwork) to facilitate communication with application server 200. Inthis example, a client entity invokes a WEB browser on communicationterminal 504 and directs the WEB browser to a uniform resource locator(URL) associated with a server application module hosted on applicationserver 200. The client entity submits login credentials, including ausername and password via a system Login message 1. Client entity isthen able to access, provision and configure survey content via message2. Client entity may request and receive reports associated with surveycontent and survey response data via message 3, which may be generatedand sent from application server 200. Client entity is able to use thisprovisioning interface to configure and administer survey participationreward content via message 4. Client entity may request and receivereports associated with survey participation reward distribution andredemption data via message 5, which may be generated and sent fromapplication server 200.

Coupon Distribution Algorithms

With further regard to the distribution of rewards, it will beappreciated that Reward Control Logic Module 210 may employ variousalgorithms for specifying the number, type and frequency of rewarddistribution to users. For example, in one embodiment of the presentinvention, a new user may be given a reward after submitting a singlesurvey response, whereas a long-time user may be given a reward onlyafter providing multiple survey responses. In another embodiment, along-time user who has become inactive and not provided survey responsesfor a prescribed period of time (e.g., has not provided any surveyfeedback for 2 months) may be given a reward after submitting a singlesurvey response as a means for encouraging use/participation. In otherscenarios, reward distribution frequency to a user may be increased (ordecreased) as the user increases their frequency of participation.

Detection of Disingenuous Survey Response Feedback

In one embodiment of the present invention, survey control logic module208 includes logic that is adapted to monitor responses received from auser and to analyze these responses over time to determine whether theuser is attempting to flood the system with minimally useful ordisingenuous survey response information. For example, a user may scanmultiple survey response QR codes for the same merchant within a shorttime interval in the hopes of receiving a large number of rewards. Suchdisingenuous survey responses are counterproductive both from a rewardissuance perspective and a qualitative/aggregate survey responsestatistics perspective (i.e., such frivolous responses do not providethe merchant with meaningful feedback, and make the interpretation ofvalid responses more difficult.). Survey control logic module 208 mayemploy one or more survey response profiling algorithms to determinewhether a user has provided disingenuous survey response information.One exemplary survey response profiling algorithm detects whether one ormore duplicate survey response values are provided by a user within apre-determined time period. Another exemplary survey response profilingalgorithm detects whether contradictory survey response values areprovided by a user within a pre-determined time period. For example, auser who provides a first survey response value of “Service was good”followed shortly by a second survey response value of “Service was bad”may be flagged as providing disingenuous survey response information.Another exemplary survey response profiling algorithm detects whetherthe number of survey responses provided by a user with respect to agiven merchant during a prescribed time period exceeds a pre-determinedthreshold value.

In one embodiment, such profiling algorithms are operable to accessreceived survey response information and associated survey responsemetadata. Exemplary survey response metadata may include, but is notlimited to, receipt date- and time-stamp information, information thatis indicative of the point-of-scan location (e.g., zipcode, city, state,GPS coordinates, etc.), survey response “demeanor” (e.g., “positive”,“neutral”, “negative”). With regard to survey response demeanor, it willbe appreciated that such classification information may be provisionedfor each possible survey response during the construction of surveycontent via provisioning module 204. As such, each possible scan-ablesurvey response may be generally classified according to a particulardemeanor values (e.g., “positive”, “neutral”, “negative”). In variousembodiments of the present invention, survey control logic module 208 isadapted to access and analyze received survey response information andassociated survey response metadata related to a particular user. Usingsuch survey response information and associated survey responsemetadata, any number of profiling algorithms may be implemented withinthe scope of the present invention. As discussed previously, oneprofiling algorithm involves analyzing survey responses and associatedmetadata to determine if the number of survey responses received duringa prescribed time period (e.g., 5 minutes) exceeds a threshold value.Another exemplary profiling algorithm involves analyzing surveyresponses and associated metadata to determine if the number of surveyresponses received during a prescribed time period (e.g., 5 minutes)exceeds a threshold value and whether at least a portion of the receivedsurvey responses have conflicting demeanor values.

In response to determining that a user has provided disingenuous surveyresponse information/feedback, survey control logic module 208 isadapted to take a mitigation action. Exemplary mitigation actions mayinclude, but are not limited to, discarding those survey responses thatwere deemed to be disingenuous, marking or flagging those surveyresponses that were deemed to be disingenuous and storing them in datastorage module 212, communicating with reporting module 206 and/orreward control logic module 210 (e.g., via the marking or flaggingdescribed previously) so that the disingenuous survey responses are notreported or rewarded. A warning message may also be sent to theoffending user and/or the user's account may be suspended or terminated.

Use of QR Code & Cookie to Open Reward Wallet

A special purpose “reward redemption” scan-able code (e.g., QR code) maybe generated by provisioning module 204. The reward redemption QR codemay include information which is received and interpreted by one or moremodules associated with the scan-able survey system of the presentinvention as a request to display survey participation rewardinformation so that it may be viewed and/or redeemed. For example, thereward redemption QR code icon may include or incorporate a rewardredemption command code value (e.g., alphanumeric code) which isresolved and interpreted by the scan-able survey system of the presentinvention as an instruction to display available survey participationreward information to the user who scans the reward redemption QR code.When scanned by scan-able code reader module 106, the reward redemptioncommand code value incorporated within the reward redemption QR code isextracted and triggers the display of available survey participationreward information to the scanning user. In one embodiment, thefiltering and displaying of rewards in the user's reward wallet may befacilitated, at least in part, by reward control logic module 114 anddata storage module 116. In another embodiment, the filtering anddisplaying of rewards in the user's reward wallet may be facilitated, atleast in part, by reward control logic module 210 and data storagemodule 212.

The reward redemption QR code may also include information whichidentifies a survey client (e.g., business or merchant). The act ofscanning the special purpose reward redemption QR code causes the SurveyClient Module 104 on the user's mobile device to display the user'srewards/reward wallet. If the scanned reward redemption QR code includesinformation which identifies a survey client, the specific reward(s)displayed to the user may be those associated with the specifiedbusiness or merchant. According to one embodiment, when the rewardredemption QR code is scanned by Survey Client Module 104, a previouslygenerated cookie (or other login credential data structure/file) thatincludes user login credentials is accessed. The login credentials maybe used to automatically log the user in to an interface (e.g., AAAinterface function within communication module 214) associated withServer Application Module 202, so that rewards may be displayed and/orredeemed by the user. In another embodiment, the login credentials maybe used to automatically log the user in to an interface associated withSurvey Client Module 104, so that rewards may be displayed and/orredeemed by the user.

In cases where the scanned reward redemption QR code includesinformation which identifies a survey client, the survey clientidentifying information (e.g., a survey client ID) obtained from thereward redemption QR code scan may be used to select and display thoserewards within the user's reward “wallet”. In one embodiment, thefiltering and displaying of rewards in the user's reward wallet may beaccomplished, at least in part, by reward control logic module 114 anddata storage module 116. In another embodiment, the filtering anddisplaying of rewards in the user's reward wallet may be accomplished,at least in part, by reward control logic module 210 and data storagemodule 212.

Scan Triggered Immediate Notification

In one embodiment of the present invention, survey content provisioningmodule 204 is adapted to permit the association of an immediatenotification trigger (INT) with a particular survey response value, suchthat when the survey response value is received from a user theassociated immediate notification trigger is fired. Associated with eachINT is a notification message, a notification mode, and a notificationcontact address. An exemplary notification message may include a textdescriptor associated with the triggering survey response value (e.g.,“Restrooms are not clean”) or a voice recording of an alert message.Exemplary notification modes may include, but are not limited to, textmessage, instant message, short message service, tweet, email, and voicecall. Exemplary notification contact address information may include,but is not limited to, a mobile subscriber ISDN (MSISDN), a mobiletelephone number, an email address, an online user identifier, a uniformresource identifier (URI), a session initiation protocol (SIP) URI, atelephone number, an Internet protocol address, and a Twitter address.In one embodiment, survey control logic module 208 includes logic thatis adapted to monitor responses received from a user and to determine ifa received survey response value fires an INT. In response todetermining that an INT should be fired, module 208 generates theINT-specified notification message and transmits or causes thenotification message to be transmitted to the specified notificationcontact address. It will be appreciated that more than one notificationcontact address may be associated with an INT, and consequently multiplenotification messages may be generated in response to the firing of asingle trigger.

Survey Response Analytics

According to one aspect of the present invention, survey control logicmodule 208 includes logic that is adapted to monitor and record surveyresponses received from a user, where each survey response is associatedwith a survey client (e.g., merchant or business). Each survey client isclassified according to a pre-defined classification framework. Forexample, survey client X may be classified as “Restaurant:Table Service:Italian”, survey client Y may be classified as “Physician:FamilyPractitioner”, etc. Geo-location information (e.g., zip code, city,state, GPS coordinates) for each survey client is maintained/accessibleby survey control logic module 208. Using this information, module 208is adapted generate a usage profile for the user which reflects surveyclient usage/patronage patterns. For example, over time, module 208 maymonitor and record/store (via data storage module 212) 100 surveyresponses that are provided by the user, where each response (andassociated metadata) is associated with a survey client. Module 208includes logic that is adapted to analyze the 100 survey responses anddetermine that the user has repeatedly visited/patronized survey clientX and survey client Y in the past 3 months. Based on this usage profile,module 208 is adapted to identify another survey client that has both asimilar classification to that of survey client X as well as a similargeo-location. This survey client that has both a similar classificationto that of survey client X as well as a similar geo-location is referredto herein as an “introducible” survey client. As the term suggests, anintroducible survey client is one that the analytics algorithm orprofiling logic associated with module 208 determines may be of interestto the user based on the user's observed usage/patronage patterns.Module 208 may send/trigger/suggest the sending of a message to the usersuggesting that the user may want to patronize the similar surveyclient. Exemplary message content may include, but is not limited to, anadvertisement, reward, or coupon. Messages may be communicated to theuser and viewed, for example, via Survey Client Module 104 oralternatively via email, text messaging service, instant messagingservice, Twitter, direct mailing, or other communication means.

Reward Sharing

In one embodiment, module 210 may facilitate the sharing, gifting, ortransfer of a survey participation reward from one user to another user.In this case, a first user who is the current owner of a surveyparticipation reward, selects the reward and identifies a second user towhom the reward is to be transferred. The first user then communicatesinformation that identifies both the reward and the “transferred to”user to module 210. The information that identifies the “transferred to”or recipient user may be a username or user ID provided by the recipientuser at the time of registration by the recipient user. Module 210receives, processes and logs the transfer request and updates theappropriate reward data so as to execute the transfer. In oneembodiment, reporting module 206 enables a client entity or user toview, track and analyze such reward transfers. In various embodiments ofthe present invention, restrictions/limitations/qualifications may beimposed on rewards that are to be transferred or gifted from one user toanother. For instance, module 210 may include reward transfer or giftingrules that specify those conditions under which a reward may betransferred and/or those conditions under which a reward may not betransferred. These rules may be stored in a database, table, or datastructure that is contained within or accessible by module 210. Anexemplary rule may state that a reward may only be transferred or giftedto a new user (e.g., a user that has registered for service within thepast 30 days, etc.). In order to enforce this rule module 210 may accessuser registration data that is maintained in data storage module 212.Another exemplary rule may state that a reward may only be transferredor gifted to a user who has not previously patronized the survey clientwith which the reward is associated. In order to enforce this rulemodule 210 may access user survey response data that is maintained indata storage module 212.

In one embodiment, an existing user may transfer or gift a reward to anindividual who has not yet become a registered user. To facilitate sucha special transfer, the existing user communicates information thatidentifies both the reward and the “transferred to” or recipient user tomodule 210. In this case, since the recipient user is not yet aregistered user of the system/service, the existing user must specify apublic contact address for the intended recipient. Exemplary publiccontact addresses may include, but are not limited to, an email address,a mobile telephone number, a mobile subscriber ISDN (MSISDN), a Twitteraddress, an instant message address. Module 210 receives processes andlogs the transfer request. In one embodiment, module 210 is adapted togenerate a message that is addressed to the specified public contactaddress (e.g., email address). In one embodiment, the message mayinclude the transferred reward or information specifying how thetransferred reward may be obtained and redeemed. In another embodiment,the message may include information that describes the pending rewardtransfer and also provides a hyperlink/URL associated with a WEB pagewhere the intended recipient may register and thereby receive and redeemthe transferred reward. The existing user that transferred or gifted thereward (thereby resulting in the recruitment/registration of a newsubscriber) may be issued a new reward as a result of the transfer. Thenew reward may be the same as the transferred reward or different. Thenew reward may be issued by reward control logic module 210.

It will be understood that various details of the subject matterdescribed herein may be changed without departing from the scope of thesubject matter described herein. Furthermore, the foregoing descriptionis for the purpose of illustration only, and not for the purpose oflimitation, as the subject matter described herein is defined by theclaims as set forth hereinafter.

1. A system for collecting survey response information, the systemcomprising: a. a survey client module, operable by a user, for; i.scanning a graphic code to obtain information that can be used toidentify a client entity and a survey response; ii. communicating theobtained information to a server application module; iii. communicatinginformation that can be used to identify the user to the serverapplication module; b. a server application module for; i. receiving theinformation communicated by the survey client module; and ii. storing atleast a portion of the received information.
 2. The system of claim 1where the survey client module resides on a mobile communication device.3. The system of claim 1 where the server application module resides ona network application server.
 4. The system of claim 1 where the graphiccode is a quick response (QR) code that is encoded with information thatcan be used to identify a client entity and a survey response.
 5. Thesystem of claim 1 where the server application module is adapted toselect follow-up survey content based, at least in part, on the receivedinformation.
 6. The system of claim 5 where the selected follow-upsurvey content is communicated to the survey client module where it isdisplayed to the user.
 7. The system of claim 6 including receiving andstoring user response option selection information associated with thefollow-up survey content.
 8. The system of claim 1 where the serverapplication module is adapted to communicate information that identifiesa survey participation reward to the survey client module.
 9. A methodfor collecting survey response information, the method comprising: a. ata survey client module that is operable by a user; i. scanning a graphiccode to obtain information that can be used to identify a client entityand a survey response; ii. communicating the obtained information andinformation that can be used to identify the user to a serverapplication module; b. at a server application module; i. receiving theinformation communicated by the survey client module; and ii. storing atleast a portion of the received information.
 10. The method of claim 9where a survey client module includes a survey client module residing ona mobile communication device.
 11. The method of claim 9 where theserver application module resides on a network application server. 12.The method of claim 9 where scanning a graphic code includes scanning aquick response (QR) code that is encoded with information that can beused to identify a client entity and a survey response.
 13. The methodof claim 9 including using the received information to select follow-upsurvey content based, at least in part, on the received information. 14.The method of claim 13 where the selected follow-up survey content iscommunicated to the survey client module where it is displayed to theuser.
 15. The method of claim 9 including, at the server applicationmodule, communicating information that identifies a survey participationreward to the survey client module.
 16. A method for receiving andprocessing scan-able code survey response information, the systemcomprising: at a server application module; a. receiving informationassociated with a plurality of scanned survey responses, where thesurvey responses were scanned by a user; b. analyzing the receivedscanned survey response information and metadata information associatedwith the received scanned survey response information to determinewhether at least some of the received survey responses constitutedisingenuous user feedback; and c. in response to determining that atleast some of the received survey responses constitute disingenuous userfeedback, performing a mitigation action.
 17. The method of claim 16where metadata includes one of receipt date/time-stamp information,information that is indicative of the point-of-scan geo-location, surveyresponse demeanor.
 18. The method of claim 16 where performing amitigation action includes one of discarding those survey responses thatwere deemed to be disingenuous, marking or flagging those surveyresponses that were deemed to be disingenuous, communicatinginstructions to an associated reward control logic module which ensurethat the disingenuous survey responses are not reported or rewarded,communicating a warning message to the user, preventing the user fromproviding further scanned survey response feedback.